UPPER POTTSGROVE—Commissioner Cathy Paretti stated at the Board meeting on October 20th: “In three months, there will be a whole new slate of people up here (referring to the Board of Commissioners) and the lawsuits will stop. They have to.”
This statement is one of the most troubling and potentially consequential remarks Paretti has made to date. Not only is her statement concerning outstanding legal matters a great concern to many residents, but her complete lack of understanding of the basic legal process is apparent.
The Township is the named defendant in ten of the thirteen open cases (not including liens and right to know matters) involving the Township. A defendant cannot just drop the case; they either comply, settle, or win. Among the Township’s active lawsuits are those involving Artisan Construction, a developer who seeks to build more than 400 homes in the Kummerer Road / Summer Grove area.
The Township has been in litigation with Artisan for years and has not folded. Does Paretti plan to settle and build 400 houses? Does the Township walk away from defending itself against overdevelopment after this new “slate” comes in, effectively giving new life to a massive housing project that residents have overwhelmingly opposed? Is it wise—or responsible—to signal to parties suing the Township that “the lawsuits will stop”?
Commissioner Don Read noted that during a recent one-on-one conversation with commissioner candidate Elwood Taylor, that Taylor too said that certain lawsuits would be “dropped.” In 2019, the first of the three Artisan building plans narrowly passed in a three-to-two vote after the Township’s professional staff strongly recommended voting against it. This plan opened the door for two additional Artisan plans and the corresponding lawsuits.
Former commissioners Martin Schreiber, France Krazalkovich, and Taylor, who voted for this controversial plan, subsequently lost their reelection bids. The two dissenting votes came from Renee Spaide and Trace Slinkerd. Now Taylor is running again.
Adding to the concern, as the local elections approach, the Township was contacted by Artisan once again to settle the litigation and obtain approvals for much of the development they initially proposed. The majority of the sitting commissioners, Don Read, Hank Llewellyn, and Trace Slinkerd, rejected their offer.
Paretti has decided all lawsuits will end when her “slate” joins the Board. Does she actually speak for all these candidates? The phrase Paretti used, “whole new slate,” is confusing as well—both Paretti and Commissioner Dave Waldt have two more years left in their term. The thought that she can immediately stop all lawsuits is a fantasy.
It would seem that Paretti believes she will become president of the Board. Best to count the votes and give the newly elected commissioners a say in the choice of president as well as in lawsuit actions.
Upper Pottsgrove Journal